We had just a short time on Green Turtle Cay during our Abaco sail trip and were determined to make the most of it. After thoroughly enjoying our Goombay Smashes and conversation with Smitty at Miss Emily’s Blue Bee Bar, Smitty mentioned that we really should go and visit the “beach”. That way, he said, pointing somewhere to the east.
Thanking Smitty and buying a jug of Goombay Smash to go, we hopped in our golf carts and headed in the suggested direction.
Coming to a fork in the road, a sign indicated beach in either direction, so we decided to veer left. Just a few yards away the brush opened up to reveal Gillam Bay.
It was obviously low tide and gasp! – the bay was filled with sandbars dotting the shallow, beautiful, clear water.
It was getting late in the afternoon and we knew our sunlight hours were limited, so we immediately went wading in the shallow water on our way out to explore some of the sandbars.
We began to see signs of sea life on the sandbars; much of it the usual suspects, such as mini starfish,
and live sand dollars making their way through the soft sand.
But then there was this…
The odd looking creature writhed its way out of the hole and laid down in the sand.
We later found out that the strange creature was most likely a sea cucumber. Sea cucumbers are echinoderms—like starfish and sea urchins, and have very interesting defense systems, such as excreting a sticky stream of goo to ensnare their enemies or expelling internal organs and then regenerating new ones!
Interesting. Anyway, we explored the sandbars until dusk, then made our way back to the boat. Smitty was so right. We certainly enjoyed beautiful Gillam Bay, it’s sandbars and it’s interesting creatures.
Have you spent time on Gillam Bay? Tell us about it!
Find the Gillam Bay, Green Turtle Cay on our Bahamas Map
To see more island posts, check out our Island Blog Directory
copyright©Rum Therapy
Pictures and other content may not be re-used without written consent from Rum Therapy, LLC
